Magic in the Making...Every Girl Wants To Ride In A Carriage

I remember being 15 year old and fascinated!

I remember getting up at 3 AM to watch it.  I remember being soaking up all the information shown on the television for weeks before. I remember the magazines that I devoured with all the details. It was the most memorable worldwide event of my life...up to that point.

I remember watching the event, spending the whole day glued to the scene. There was no interent back then...if there had been, I imagine I would have been googling all day too!

I dreamed of one day finding my prince, wearing a beautiful gown and riding through the streets in a carriage.
It was...magical!

I followed her life from the moment the ring went on her finger until the day her coffin stood at the altar where she took those vows. I cried at the wedding, I cried through the funeral.

Tomorrow, I am sure I will be up at 3 AM once again to watch the pomp and pagentry as her son takes a bride. A new princess.

I am much older now, I have a family and a life that will not let me consumed as I once was...but I am intersted in it all nonetheless. How about you? Where will you be at 3 AM --- glued to your television set or sleeping soundly?

Happily!
Bev

The Tooth Fairy, The Easter Bunny and Other Tales of Easter

Question: How many people get visited by the Tooth Fairy AND the Easter Bunny on the same night???

Answer: At least one!!!

It was an Easter to remember around this little house on the lane. Friday brought us Henry the bunny - a real live soft and cuddly Easter bunny surprise. Saturday night brought another loose tooth and tooth pulling session and out popped tooth number 6....just in time for bed. So, we popped the tooth in a plastic egg, wrote a quick note to the Tooth Fairy so she would know it was for her and then put out some carrots for the Easter Bunny. I am sure the two of them had fun flying and hopping all over our house during the night!

In the morning, there were five glittery dollar bills in place of the egg and a glorious filled Easter basket waiting on the kitchen table.

Even though our day started out on the "worldly" end of the Easter celebration, we did manage to make it to church for a wonderful celebration of the Risen Saviour and the true meaning behind all the eggs and merriment! After a filling lunch with my parents and in-laws, and a fun egg hunt with Henry the Bunny, we wrapped up Easter 2011. It was fun and memories were made in a gigantic way this year!

Happily!
Bev

He Is Alive!

He is Risen!

He is Alive!

Today we celebrate the day EVERYTHING CHANGED!!
Happy Easter from my family to  yours!
Happily,
Beverly

The Final Answer

Hippity, Hoppity, Henry finally hopped our way!

Have you ever seen a happier face (on the kiddo -- definitely not on the bunny!) ? 

Our new forever friend is Henry B. Whiskers, the"B" stands for Bunny, and he is a sweet little dwarf bunny. He was a prop last week for our Easter portraits with a photographer friend and this Friday he is our pet! He has warmed up to his new home, he is happily playing in the backyard with the kiddo and all is right in our world! Life is always interesting around here...and now it is a hopping good time as well!!

May you and your family have a great Easter weekend.

Hoppily!!!!
Bev

Clue # 2

Hoppity...

A Clue

Hippity...

Take A Look!

I posted some new pictures of my garden on the Happy Homestead site...ya'll go look and see "How My Garden Is Growing!"
Happily,
Bev

Will the Circle Be Unbroken???

My Kitchen Curtains

The wrought iron art piece above my kitchen sideboard

The door mat at my back door/laundry room - and yes - it does match my kitchen curtains!!

Our newest addition to the family room

The mirror above my fireplace.

My favorite rain boots (well, they are my only rain boots!) - I use these for gardening too!

Welcome Mat at the back door I bought last week!

My favorite pj's!

Corner of my child's room we decorated last year!



Notice anything....

I believe I have been a wee obsessed with a certain shape in my decorating choices!!

The mind....it is a scary place! Well, at least mine is!!

Happily!
Bev

My Life on Saturday!

This is what happens when you try and blog without your glasses!!
Turn your head and enjoy  - this is what we did on Saturday....Gymnastics and Egg Hunt!!

I promise I will turn these right side up when I find my spectacles!!

Happily!
Bev

Actually this is probably the most realistic depiction of my life anyway with a 6.5 year old -- everything is always a little  off and upside down and sideways!!!  :-) 

One Person...

My favorite Sunday School teacher filled in for my 2nd favorite Sunday School teacher this morning - and MAN - was I glad I got out of bed, dressed and went to church. It was so worth it! Ever had a day like that?

The whole lesson was a smash hit in my book - but the one line that has been floating in my brain ever since 10 AM this morning is this...

"I would rather have one person praying for me, than 100 people wishing me good luck." 

It is a direct quote from the teacher's father - another man at my church who I adore! And the line - well, I think I will use it from now until eternity. I am fortunate enough to know that there is one and even a few more that are praying for me always. This strength has pulled me through many dark days and because of that - I have learned the power of  a praying one.

There is one soul that floats through this world that I have prayed for and will continue to pray for daily - it is a habit borne of years - 28 years in fact and it is not about to slow down, no matter what! The "no matter what" is currently that this person has dismissed me and all I believe in and where there once was communication and relationship - there is now silence and brokenness. I can take it - Jesus went through worse for me -- but it still stings. To know someone is deliberately running from grace and mercy is the saddest sight to have to sit and watch. And because it is so heartbreaking to me - I can't watch -I can only pray from the sideline...

So, know this -- PERSON WHO SHALL FOREVER BE NAMELESS ON THIS BLOG (I kinda need a little symbol for them - like Prince had in the 90's)... there is this one person in this world praying for you - and although you may be happiest about the 100 people wishing you good luck right now...I pray that one day, the prayers of this girl will mean at least a little something to you in your life. You can't have true happiness in life, until you acknowledge where that true happiness comes from...and when you are ready to talk about it once more --you know where I will be....

Happily!
BEV

My Kinda Treat Bag!

Just thought I would share one of my birthday gifts to myself. It is an insulated tote bag - perfect for those beach or poolside treats!  I got it out this morning and had a sudden urge to fill it up and head out to the seashore!!!

Unfortunately, that is not on the books for today. Today is Springfest at our Gymnastics class and then later on an Easter Egg Hunt with friends. It is gonna be a fun day for sure -- just not as fun as a beach day. :-(

Hope you have a terrific Saturday planned out as well.

Happily!
Bev

Pretty and Useful...Pretty Useful!

This post belongs in the "Things That Make Me Smile" category.

These are my new measuring cups - bought at Pier I Imports with my gift card thta my sis-in-law gave me for CHristmas. I bought some other items with it too...she was very generous to me - but this is by far my favorite thing in the kitchen right now.  Aren't they pretty? The blue reminds of the pretty and they do work immensely well. Plus, I get the added benefit of pretending to be Ms. Paula when I am at woAdratic Sea...and they are delicate and all china like - so I feel extra special using something so pretty for something so ordinary as measuring sugar or flour or milk!

I saw a Paula Deen show - and she had some. They looked so pretty and seemed so efficient when she was using them that I when I saw them in Pier I recently, I just knew I had to have them. And guess what - they are pretty and I can't help pretending I am Ms. Paula whenever I work in the kitchen these days. Of course this is resulting in me throwing a stick or two of butter in whatever it is I am making, but hey - butter is what makes everything taste so good - so why not?!

Just thought I would share...now, what is your most recent favorite purchase? Share in the comment section - it is open for business!

Happily!
Bev

A Petunia By Any Other Name...Is Still A Petunia!

I was feeling kinda sad about not doing a lot of things on my Spring Break "To-Do" list last week, so on the way home I dropped into the local hardware store and set about trying to complete # 8 on the the Things I Didn't Do list, aka "Plant those Pansies".

Three yellow pots and a bag 'o potting soil later, I was headed home to sit and play in the dirt.  My kiddo and I set about the process...we filled the pots and separated the plants and potted them in the pretty yellow pots. I also found a few clay pots hanging out in the shed and we had enough flowers to plant about five pots of the pretty purple flowers.

Notice anything?

For those of you who might not get it right away...I have been calling these PETUNIAS - pansies for about three weeks...

Oh well!!

I am just glad I finally got those PETUNIAS planted today -- they make my deck and backyard smile!

Happily!
Bev

Way Back When The Pioneer Woman Came To Town

This happened back in March...but of course that was during my no laptop phase so I could not post the picture! My friend Kim and I were lucky enough to meet Ree Drummond aka the Pioneer Woman. It was a blast --she is my blogging  hero - you can check her blog out on my sidebar. She is very talented - photographer, writer, cook, homemaker-- I can only aspire to a fraction of her talent. But it sure is fun trying...and I was super excited to be in the presence of her greatness and Kim and I had a blast like we always do whenever we are together!! 

Have a great Monday!
Happily!
Bev

How I Spent My Spring Break

Here's how I spent  my Spring break...

1. Turned a  year older :-(

2. Got a super cool computer from my hubby and parents! Thanks!! :-) 

3. Did 49 loads of laundry. :-(

4. Found out how my garden grows! :-)

5. Went to a concert with my favorite guy! :-)

6. Updated my blog (did you guys notice the new buttons and links to new sections at the top yet??)  :-)

7. Went out to eat TWICE for my b-day..yum!

8. Saw the movie HOP with my favorite 6.5 year old! It was cute. :-) 

9. Met our friends for a fun day of play at Chickafila and the park. :-)  

10. Started making our Easter crafts..be sure to check out my new craft section for more on that!

11. Dealt with the aftermath of a bad storm, lost the contents of my freezer and fridge, and hosted my parents at my Supper and Sleep Inn as they recouped from their storm damage!!

Here's what I DIDN'T do on my Spring Break...

1. Sleep late (nope - not once!!)

2. Go out of town.

3. See the ocean.

4. Read a book.

5. Paint the dining room.

6. Clean out my closet.

7. Clear the front bedroom of all the clutter.

8. Plant those pansies.

9. Cook a lot.

10. Take a nap.

11. Watch the full premiere episode of "Real Housewives of New York City! (I fell asleep!)

  

So...how did you spend this past week? 

Happily!
Bev

The Peace Garden - A Photographic Preview

Not long ago I wrote about the garden my kiddo and I planted recently. We have been patiently waiting for some sprouts to appear and I am happy to report that all seeds have sprouted...sunflowers, onions and carrots! We are so thrilled!

Here are a few pictures of my first spring veggie garden! Pray for rain and a good harvest!

Happily Homesteading!
Beverly

The Path of Destruction

My parent's were hit in the storm Monday night. Thankfully the house was absolutely untouched, but the yard and the driveway were not so lucky.  My hubby and father in law and their landscape guy spent some time with some chain saws on Tuesday morning trying to clear their driveway...that is the first photo...it was a mess!

The second photo is just of a big old tree that was UPROOTED by the wind...it was amazing to see strong trees flung around the yard and yet the plastic hummingbird feeders stand in place!

The last photo is the most amazing one to us...three trees heading for the roof of my parents' home,seemingly stopped in midair by something that even bent one of them. I have no doubt that the mighty hand of God stopped those trees...they bent but did not break and hopefully today the tree removal company will have them out of the ground and chopped up into pieces so they can never endanger a house and people again!

My parent's lost some trees and a pretty fence...but many of their neighbors and other across the area were not so lucky. We are praying for all that suffered worse in the path of that destruction!

Happily!
Bev

They Came...We Went...It ROCKED!!!

Last night my hubby and I headed out on our what has become annual date night for my birthday at the Rock for Dough Concert that happens in our town once a year!  Last night was windy and cold, but by the time Mr. Darius Rucker took the stage after Edwin McCain and Sister Hazel, we were on our feet, dancing and singing and never feeling the cold wind whipping through us! It was an awesome night of music...and sights to see. Nothing like sitting a crowd of oh, 15,000 or so and getting to see some unique fashions! I did pick up a few tips to share with my daughter on how NOT to dress and act...it is fertile ground for that type of research!


Edwin McCain...

 Sister Hazel...

 Darius Rucker!!

The pics aren't that great - cause - well, I am short and people were in front of me...but still it was a great event. Just for your fyi...this pic of Darius Rucker was taken as he was singing Purple Rain -- oh my gravy train was it good...the whole show was - but that is just one of my fave songs - and I loved his version so much!

The whole evening ROCKED! Can't wait for next year!

Happily,
Bev

Oh Happy Day!!

I normally don't share such personal info on this blog (haha, ya'll need to quit laughin!!) but today is my birthday...and I got a new laptop! I just had to share since my old one had died and gone to LP heaven where I am sure he is happily surfing down the golden streets of the heavenly portal and experiencing faster than lightening zips from one page to another!

Many thanks to my parents and hubby for making my new laptop a possibility...I can't wait to try out the card reader and post some pics to the blog and the blueray player to watch a movie or two...WHOO HOO!!

So - happy birthday to me-- la dee dee la dee dee....

Hope you are having a great day too!!

Happily!
Bev